Help with Jewish Naming Custom Please!

So we’ve decided to name our daughter [name_f]Mina[/name_f] after my husband’s grandmother, [name_f]Mina[/name_f] who passed away this winter. We considered other names starting with “M” but really felt this name had the most meaning because there just weren’t any other M names we loved. For the middle name we’d like to use the initial “A” to name the baby after my deceased grandfather [name_m]Allen[/name_m]. Problem is we really like [name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Anne[/name_f] or [name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Alice[/name_f]. Our other baby girl is [name_f]Ruth[/name_f] [name_f]Hannah[/name_f]. Apparently [name_f]Anne[/name_f] is the English version of [name_f]Hannah[/name_f] so it won’t work because in Judaism you can’t name a child after a relative who is living. Also, my husband’s grandmother is [name_f]Annette[/name_f] which is close to [name_f]Anne[/name_f]. We really like [name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Alice[/name_f] but my 95 year old living great aunt is [name_f]Alice[/name_f]. Maybe I could ask her if we could use her name but the family may not appreciate that. I really like classic names that can hold the test of time. Any other A names that go with [name_f]Mina[/name_f] or have a Jewish theme or Re just plain classy and classic? Ideas please! Also if you have any thoughts on the Jewish prob with the name [name_f]Alice[/name_f] with my aunt that would be good too! Thanks!

Not being familiar with Jewish custom I’m afraid I can’t help you re: [name_f]Alice[/name_f], however here are some suggestions you may like. Good luck!

[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_u]Alexis[/name_u]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Azalea[/name_f]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Araminta[/name_f]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_m]Aramis[/name_m]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Agnes[/name_f]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Audrey[/name_f]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_u]Ariel[/name_u]

[name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Abigail[/name_f]? I think that sounds beautiful.

[name_f]Abigail[/name_f] is a real amazing A name, and she’s from the bible- She was a wise, socially savvy, beautiful prophetess who saved [name_m]King[/name_m] [name_m]David[/name_m] and eventually became his wife.

That’s my vote - [name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] :slight_smile:

Ps. If your great aunt [name_f]Alice[/name_f] is traditional enough, she would probably be very bothered if you use her name. I’m imagining my own grandmother, scolding me that I’m wishing death on her for wanting to use her name! (Also, in her 90’s…)

[name_f]Mina[/name_f] is beautiful. [name_f]My[/name_f] first thought was [name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] (wonderful with [name_f]Ruth[/name_f] [name_f]Hannah[/name_f]), but I don’t know how you feel about alteration? Otherwise; classic A name that’s not [name_f]Alice[/name_f]/[name_f]Anne[/name_f]…

[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Abigail[/name_f]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Amara[/name_f]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Audrey[/name_f]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_u]Ariel[/name_u], [name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Ariella[/name_f] (meaning ‘’[name_m]Lion[/name_m] of God’')

These are less classic but with biblical origins; [name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Aviva[/name_f], [name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Ayelet[/name_f], [name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Aliza[/name_f].

To break your rules entirely; my favourite very-Jewish names are [name_f]Shoshana[/name_f] and [name_f]Hadassah[/name_f].

I know that [name_m]Allen[/name_m] is a boy’s name, but I kinda like it with [name_f]Mina[/name_f]. I think [name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_m]Allen[/name_m] is striking!

Or maybe you could change it to [name_f]Ellen[/name_f] so it’s more feminine, but still honoring your grandfather.

Good luck!

[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Adele[/name_f]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Alaina[/name_f]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Ambrosia[/name_f]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_u]Allison[/name_u]

[name_f]Alana[/name_f] is the feminine form of [name_m]Alan[/name_m]. There’s also [name_u]Alani[/name_u] which is similar to [name_m]Alan[/name_m].

[name_m]How[/name_m] about:

[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_u]Ariel[/name_u]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Amabel[/name_f]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Annora[/name_f] (dont know if you can use this for the same reason you can’t use [name_f]Ann[/name_f])
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Antonia[/name_f]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_u]Alani[/name_u]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Alondra[/name_f]

[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_u]Alix[/name_u] would be a sweet choice.

I agree with PP about adapting [name_m]Allen[/name_m] rather than using the A initial - so maybe:

[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_u]Allie[/name_u]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Elaine[/name_f]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Eileen[/name_f]

[name_f]Mina[/name_f]'s lovely! I guess what I don’t understand is, couldn’t any “A” name still be honoring [name_f]Alice[/name_f]? [name_f]My[/name_f] best friend was Jewish, and when she named her kiddos, she used (and I’ve heard many Jews have done the same thing) just any alliteration. So even [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] could honor [name_f]Alice[/name_f], but I don’t know if I am missing something here. I’m obviously not Jewish, but I’ve tried to understand their practices, in her honor.

If any “A” name would do, what about:

[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Ayelet[/name_f] (I understand [name_f]Ayelet[/name_f]'s sort of dated in the Jewish community, but I think it’s lovely, and I think [name_f]Ruth[/name_f] [name_f]Hannah[/name_f] and [name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Ayelet[/name_f] are gorgeous!)
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Aline[/name_f]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Alouette[/name_f]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Amaya[/name_f]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Adaya[/name_f]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Aveline[/name_f]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Adeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Audrey[/name_f] (love this with [name_f]Ruth[/name_f] [name_f]Hannah[/name_f], too!)
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Angeline[/name_f]

Good luck!

With such a delicate situation I guess it would be good to steer clear of all possible perceived offensive name-a-likes or sound a likes for all relatives or friends. Keeping this in mind here I go:

[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Amaris[/name_f] - meaning in Hebrew: Given by God

[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Ayn[/name_f] (can be pronounced like Eyn 1 syllable) meaning in Hebrew: “He (God) has favored me”

[name_f]Non[/name_f] Hebrew [name_f]Mina[/name_f] Anore (pronounced [name_m]AH[/name_m] norr)

I tried to stay away from “a” or “[name_m]Ah[/name_m]” soundings on the ends of the middle names so they wouldn’t compete with the “ah” at then end of [name_f]Mina[/name_f] EXCEPT

[name_f]Mina[/name_f] Avera

What was [name_m]Allen[/name_m]'s Hebrew name? Some of them have pretty direct feminizations…? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you know what the Hebrew name (not necessarily on the birth certificate - I’m Jewish and most people in my family have 2 sets of names) will be? I have A names in my family for instance where the A in English is [name_m]Alfred[/name_m] but he was an [name_m]Avram[/name_m] in Hebrew, or [name_m]Arnold[/name_m] was an [name_m]Aharon[/name_m] ([name_m]Aaron[/name_m]), or whatever.

[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] - [name_f]Abigail[/name_f] is very classic, and a Torah name, though in Hebrew it’d be [name_f]Avigail[/name_f]. Flawless name.
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Ada[/name_f]/[name_f]Adah[/name_f] - Or [name_f]Ada[/name_f]. Biblical. Accent on the second syllable in Hebrew, which also happens to make it sound better following [name_f]Mina[/name_f].
[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_f]Ayelet[/name_f] - [name_f]Ayelet[/name_f] is not particularly traditional in English but I really love it, it’s a Hebrew name relating to the morning star - literally ‘gazelle of dawn.’ A more familiar English name could be [name_f]Aurora[/name_f]?

Other Hebrew A names I like:
[name_f]Aviva[/name_f]
[name_f]Adina[/name_f]
[name_f]Ariella[/name_f]
[name_f]Ayala[/name_f]
[name_f]Aliza[/name_f] - this is a-lee-za, not like [name_f]Eliza[/name_f]. It’s very pretty though.
[name_f]Aliyah[/name_f] or [name_f]Aaliyah[/name_f]

Classic A names:
[name_f]Amy[/name_f] - Always makes me think of [name_m]Little[/name_m] Women
[name_f]Amity[/name_f] - [name_f]Virtue[/name_f] name
[name_f]Ava[/name_f] - I don’t love it, but it’s pretty classic. It’s a form of [name_f]Eve[/name_f], not a form of [name_f]Hannah[/name_f].
[name_f]Alexandra[/name_f] - great tie to [name_m]Allen[/name_m] via the [name_m]Al[/name_m]- without stepping on [name_f]Alice[/name_f] at all really. ([name_f]Alicia[/name_f] is pretty too but…)
[name_f]Amanda[/name_f] - It’s never been OUT of the Top 1000 in the US, so pretty classic in that sense. So is [name_f]Amelia[/name_f].
[name_f]Alana[/name_f]/[name_f]Alannah[/name_f] - Direct feminizations of [name_m]Allen[/name_m].

[name_f]Mina[/name_f] [name_u]Allison[/name_u]